Is buying 2nd hand worth it?

tivvo

I originally set out with intentions to have a budget gaming pc built, but finances have taken a downturn. I want to get my kids (14 & 10) a desktop pc for Christmas, and need a half decent bundle. It doesn't have to be amazing, but would like something they can watch movies, play basic games, surf net, do school projects etc. Our current machine is prehistoric, can't be upgraded, and has a crappy crt monitor. Would it be worth buying a 2nd hand machine from the likes of adverts.ie or is it asking for trouble?

ED E

There are several con artists on their building dud "gaming" pcs and selling them at a silly markup with quite obviously stolen software. Adverts mods take a back seat unless its really in your face though.


You might get a good deal but you'd want to know what you're looking for to do it that way.

uncle_sam_ie

ED E wrote: »

There are several con artists on their building dud "gaming" pcs and selling them at a silly markup with quite obviously stolen software. Adverts mods take a back seat unless its really in your face though.


You might get a good deal but you'd want to know what you're looking for to do it that way.

Yeah, and they build them with cheap ass PSU's too. Just link the one your interested in tivvo and will have a look at it for you.

Dey were Sooted

Might be worth having a look on eBay also . .

TonyStark

tivvo wrote: »

I originally set out with intentions to have a budget gaming pc built, but finances have taken a downturn. I want to get my kids (14 & 10) a desktop pc for Christmas, and need a half decent bundle. It doesn't have to be amazing, but would like something they can watch movies, play basic games, surf net, do school projects etc. Our current machine is prehistoric, can't be upgraded, and has a crappy crt monitor. Would it be worth buying a 2nd hand machine from the likes of adverts.ie or is it asking for trouble?

Got a budget? What's the most you have to spend?

€200-300?

areyawell

Could get a good gaming PC for 380 euro off hardware versand which would run all the new games at high settings. Tell the guys in the hardware building forum here whats your budget and they'll do you up a nice PC. A Pc off hardware Versand for 400 euro would be like 900 euro in other places. They'll pick the parts for you and hardware versand will put it all together. Oops that doesnt include Windows so would be 460 euro
http://i45.tinypic.com/kej709.png

Marsden

I bought a used pc for gaming over the summer from adverts. €320 and I can run nearly any game on high settings. Got a monitor, keyboard and speakers. Definitely worth it.

tivvo

Thanks guys. Our budget would be €450 but we really don't want to spend that much if we can avoid it! I am starting to go crazy trying to decide between buying 2nd hand (who can you trust), off the shelf (amazon/argos/pcworld/dell?), custom built (don't know anyone or anything about)...every time we decide on something another set of questions come up!! We just want a decent enough multimedia pc and monitor with the option to maybe upgrading in the future if the need arises. Are any of these ok/too much/rip off.
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5087145.htm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007PEI58S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DISCOUNTEDPCS-AMD-2-8GHz-GAMING-PC-2GB-500GB-DESKTOP-FAST-COMPUTER-WINDOWS7-/271089552882?pt=UK_Computing_DesktopPCs&hash=item3f1e324df2
http://www.adverts.ie/desktops/hp-pro-3120-pc-monitor/2297858
Sorry about putting so many up there but as I said, I am going gaga over this and need to just stop looking! If anyone can suggest something suitable or knows of any deals I would be eternally grateful!! Thanks again

uncle_sam_ie

All those you listed suck really. 450 euro's you can build one, but with an OS and a monitor you will be cutting it tight. What OS is on the dinosaur you have now? And, do you still have the key? You might be able to upgrade to windows 8 for €29.

Edit, I found this one. It's not that bad. I bet you could talk him down to 300( I would not pay 400 for it.) http://www.adverts.ie/desktops/custom-built-pc-core-i3-ati-hd4850/2304635
Then buy this monitor, https://lb.hardwareversand.de/22+inch/58698/BenQ+G2255.article
Ask him if he has the window 7 key.

You can upgrade the video card down the road with a better one but, that one will do fine for now.

tivvo

uncle_sam_ie wrote: »

All those you listed suck really. 450 euro's you can build one, but with an OS and a monitor you will be cutting it tight. What OS is on the dinosaur you have now? And, do you still have the key? You might be able to upgrade to windows 8 for €29.

Edit, I found this one. It's not that bad. I bet you could talk him down to 300( I would not pay 400 for it.) http://www.adverts.ie/desktops/custom-built-pc-core-i3-ati-hd4850/2304635
Then buy this monitor, https://lb.hardwareversand.de/22+inch/58698/BenQ+G2255.article
Ask him if he has the window 7 key.

You can upgrade the video card down the road with a better one but, that one will do fine for now.

Ah Jaysus! I thought I'd have at least SOMETHING out of those worth buying! Our dinosaur was built for us 10yrs ago and had software pre-installed (no key) so no luck there. Would that pc be newly built do you think or a used one? If I could get that for €300 and the monitor you mentioned I'd be stoked! Gonna start negotiations me thinks Thanks a mill!

uncle_sam_ie

Dcully is selling one too. It needs a harddrive and the Vista 32 bit sucks but, you could get over that. Get him to throw in that HD 6950 and your set.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056807156

The PC in the Ad is self built and a few years old. I'd go for Dcully's PC

tivvo

uncle_sam_ie wrote: »

Dcully is selling one too. It needs a harddrive and the Vista 32 bit sucks but, you could get over that. Get him to throw in that HD 6950 and your set.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056807156

The PC in the Ad is self built and a few years old. I'd go for Dcully's PC

Oh Lordy uncle_sam_ie! I really don't know enough about computers to buy something that needs work!? We need something that can be set up on Christmas Eve, plugged in and ready be to go....As I said, it really doesn't matter if it can play games, as Mr teenager hasn't played any pc games to date so wouldn't miss a graphics card. We just need a good monitor and decent multimedia pc that is stupid proof

uncle_sam_ie

tivvo wrote: »

Oh Lordy uncle_sam_ie! I really don't know enough about computers to buy something that needs work!? We need something that can be set up on Christmas Eve, plugged in and ready be to go....As I said, it really doesn't matter if it can play games, as Mr teenager hasn't played any pc games to date so wouldn't miss a graphics card. We just need a good monitor and decent multimedia pc that is stupid proof

It doesn't need work. It just needs a harddrive, EasyPeasy. Talk to Dcully, if you were buying it off him I'd bet he'd put a harddrive in it for you and have it up running.

Edit: https://lb.hardwareversand.de/7200+RPM/62086/Toshiba+DT01ACA+Series+500GB%2C+SATA+6Gb+s.article
+ the monitor